Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-22
SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD.
THE Postoffiee Regulations which ar

The Postofiiee Regulations which are
Now TO be MISUNDERSTANDING
About These Rules.
The order recently issued to postmss-
tiers by Postmaster General Villas con-
corning the enforcement of the postal
laws governing second, third and fourt h
class matter, has been published gener-
ally in the papers, but seems not yet to
be fully understood by the public. The
ARGUS has alluded to it on numerous &C.
caslons. The law is an act of congress
passed March 8. 1879, and provides that
upon the envelope or wrapper enclosing
the same there shall be no writing or
printing. other than pertains to the deliv
cry thereof. except the ordinary return
request may be written-or printed there
on. But all advertisements, or cuts or
printing of any kind aside from the adj
dress and return request, subjects all
such matter to letter postage.
The return request must contain moth
ing in addition than: 4'If not called for
In ten days return to---Rock ISL
and, Ill.," is permissible. But return
to--dealer, ETC., is not permissi-
BILE. The postmaster of neighboring
city has written to Postmaster General
Villas In view of the fact that the law has
been so generally disregarded, calling
attention to the fact that numbers Of
manufacturers and other business houses
had already large supplies of envelopes OF
wrappers with the forbidden printing
thereon. and it would necessarily entail
some loss and much Inconvenience unless
some time should be allowed to exhaust
such supply In reply Postmaster Villas
says:
"Other communications have been re.
ceived at the department, indicating that
| at various places the statute has not been
| observed in some instances in respect to
second, third or fourth class matter
There Is but one way in which the relief
you seek can be granted by the depart
ment, and that is by openly violating the
| law. No power of suspension of thu
statute is granted; the duty of the officer,
of the postal service, as of every citizen
is to obey it. Your request. therefore
finds me in the most hearty sympsth.
with every cali of business interest upon
the postal service, and warmly, DESTROYS
of promoting its advantages to business
men, but utterly helpless TO permit y0i
TO send parcels or Giro ulars in disregard
of the explicit unmistakable direction o
the law>making power"
Postmaster General Villas adds furthe
that while he cannot approve of the abus
to which this practice of printing upol
envelopes has been carried, he finds
difficult to justify the rigid exclusion o
all printing upon wrappers of third an
fourth class matter. In his forthcomin
annual report he will invite the attentio
Of the president, and through him {
congress. to this subject. OF cems
these restrictions do not apply 10 letter
or any matter upon which letter postag
is paid.
| Business men here and elsewhere, an
all Others, will thus see that the ms true
tons to all postmasters are definite an
5 peremptory, and that they must enfort
this regulation. The postoffiee depart
; ment will allow merchants and Others +,
t use up the stock on hand of enyelop,
and wrappers for third and fourth elias
: matter, notwithstanding the order cor
9 corning printed matter on these wrapper
r The department feels that the ruling can
rather too suddenly to allow of the stot
}, on hand to be thus suddenly made yslu
1 | less,